“It’s possible that because the bottom of this sinkhole is isolated from the outside world, the plants and animals here are probably ancient species. I think this golden sword frog is a bit different from the ones I’ve seen before,” Yuriko said softly. “I’m not sure if it’s a poisonous sword frog, but it’s always safer not to touch it.”
As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. Although Zhou Xuan didn't like the Japanese, Yuriko was obviously not as annoying as Ito and was always polite to him.
Zhou Xuan thanked Yuriko for her kindness and then asked, "Aren't you going to rest?"
Instead of answering Zhou Xuan's question, Yuriko asked him again, "Mr. Zhou, what are your thoughts on exploring the underwater cave tomorrow?"
Zhou Xuan shook his head. What could he possibly be thinking? He only wanted to investigate the whereabouts and secrets of the superpowered Huang Shitou, while Baihezi and the others were after money. Their thoughts were different.
Yuriko continued, "This afternoon, Mr. Li and my senior brother used a small instrument to probe the depth of the water cave. About four meters below the surface, there is a fast-flowing underground river running east to west. The water depth directly below is about 260 meters, but due to the terrain, we couldn't measure other places or the width. The water below the underground river is far more than what we see on the surface. I think if Miss Fu Ying's great-great-grandfather's remains are here, there are only two possibilities: either he was washed away by the underground river or he may have sunk to the bottom."
Zhou Xuan didn't speak, and Yuriko immediately added, "The water temperature is only two degrees!"
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Volume One: The First Signs of Growth, Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Broken Nylon Rope
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If the water temperature is only two degrees Celsius, a human cannot remain submerged for a certain period. Fortunately, Fu Ying ordered new types of diving suits. While professional divers, even those with training, can withstand low temperatures for a time, there are limits. Exceeding their tolerance level will still result in freezing to death. This is nothing like the temperature in the Atlantic Ocean a few days ago. (WENxueMI.com)
That night, Zhou Xuan had trouble falling asleep. Lying next to him was Li Junjie, who slept soundly. Zhou Xuan envied him a little. He had a straightforward personality, saying and doing whatever came to mind. He liked you if he liked you, and he didn't like you if he didn't. This kind of person was the easiest to make friends with. As long as you were sincere to your friends, you would get sincerity in return.
On the far right is Ito, followed by Fu Tianlai, Wolf and the Daniel brothers, Li Junjie, and on the far left is Zhou Xuan, with the black man on night watch outside.
Zhou Xuan was in high spirits and had no sleepiness at all. He guessed it was probably because the ice energy from the pill had been greatly enhanced, and his diving ability must have been enhanced as well. Zhou Xuan had no doubt about his ability to stay underwater tomorrow. In the past, he could stay underwater for more than 200 meters with his bare hands using his special ice energy. Wearing the new diving suit, he could reach more than 400 meters. After unintentionally absorbing the energy from Fu Ying's stone tonight, his diving depth would only be even greater.
Zhou Xuan glanced at his gloved hand and sighed inwardly. The obvious color on his left hand was a bit inconvenient. After thinking about it, since he couldn't sleep anyway, he simply closed his eyes and silently circulated the ice energy within his body. It wouldn't hurt him to refine the ice energy of the pill.
Around 7 a.m., the Black man had already roasted the remaining wild boar meat, and then used ropes to tie small buckets to the underground river cave to fetch several buckets of water for everyone to wash.
After washing my face with ice water, I felt refreshed. The morning air is already good, let alone in a forest like this.
Zhou Xuan noticed that among everyone, Fu Tianlai had the dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that the old man was the only one who hadn't slept well last night.
Around 10 o'clock, the sunlight slanted onto the western rock wall, greatly increasing the brightness at the bottom of the sinkhole. Li Junjie checked his watch and said, "Everyone, get ready. We'll go into the water at 11 o'clock."
The black man had already taken all the diving equipment out of the bag and placed it on the rock. Except for Fu Tianlai and the black man, all ten people had changed into diving suits.
Fu Tianlai frowned and said, "Xiao Ying, why don't you stay up here with me?"
“Grandpa!” Fu Ying shook her head and said, “I’m not a child anymore. I’ve trained for this for a long time. We’re so well prepared. It’s very different from when you went into the water before. Besides, our new diving suits are already better than what you used to have, Grandpa, right?”
Fu Tianlai frowned. Although he didn't say anything more, how could he not be worried? No matter how well prepared he was, he had witnessed the dangers of this water cave four times. Although he still couldn't understand what was inside, no one who went in had ever come out. This meant that no matter what was inside, it was a life-or-death matter. He could pay money to risk other people's lives, but he would never want his own family to take this risk.
Fu Tianlai didn't want Fu Ying and Li Junjie to take the risk, so after thinking for a moment, he said, "Junjie, Xiaoying, you two stay on the shore with us."
The Wolf Brothers and Elena didn't understand Fu Tianlai's words and ignored him. They had invited the Ito brothers and sisters for high pay, so it was only natural for the boss not to take risks. There was nothing strange about it. Only Zhou Xuan felt a little sad. In Fu Tianlai's mind, their lives were just bought with money. What was so important about them?
If it weren't for the fact that she only wanted to unravel the mystery of the Golden Stone's ability, she would never have risked her life for his money. Although she didn't want to become a super-rich person like them, with the ability of her left hand, she figured she could support a large family for the rest of her life without worrying about food or clothing, and she wouldn't need to flatter or fawn over anyone.
Li Junjie and the black man chose a large tree that would take two people to hug at the edge of the jungle near the rocks. They tied one end of a nylon rope to the tree trunk and placed the other end near the water cave.
After doing all that, Li Junjie said to Fu Tianlai, "Grandpa, don't worry, everything will be fine. We're very well prepared. Ever since I was little, when you told me this story, I've always thought that I would definitely come to this place when I grew up. Tell me, how could I not go down today?"
Fu Tianlai's expression was stern as he coldly said, "Neither you nor Xiaoying can go into the water. Don't say another word!"
Zhou Xuan didn't say anything more. Fu Tianlai then showed the majesty of the head of a huge financial family. Although he used money to buy and sell other people's lives, he still cared about his own family.
Actually, no one can be blamed. That's just how the world is. Besides, this business is a voluntary transaction between the two parties. One is willing to give, and the other is willing to receive. It's a fair trade.
Standing at the edge of the water cave, Zhou Xuan felt as if this unfathomable underground pool was a monster with its mouth wide open, waiting for them, its food, to be automatically delivered into it.
Li Junjie loosened the specially made nylon rope one loop at a time and said, "There is an east-west underground current flowing through the bottom three or four meters below this water cave, so when you go into the water, you must dive down close to the rock wall to avoid this fast-flowing underground river. Everyone, fasten your safety buckles to the ropes. Anyone who is in danger or can't hold on can come out first."
The super-compressed air cylinders they brought were only enough for eight people to exchange air once, which meant they only had two chances to dive. If they failed to complete the mission, even if they went underwater again, they would have to rely on holding their breath to survive.
After putting on his diving suit, carrying his air tank, and taking his crossbow, Ito Kinji fastened the safety buckle to the rope and became the first to descend into the water along the rock wall near the cave entrance.
After Ito's head disappeared into the water, the surface remained calm as if nothing had happened, and the undercurrents beneath the surface were not visible at all.
The second person to go into the water was Wolf, followed by Daniel, Elena, Yuriko Ono, and finally Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan was indeed a little nervous, after all, the mysterious atmosphere here was too strong, unlike the ocean, which, although large, was not so terrifying.
Fu Tianlai and Li Junjie inspected the items on the shore again. Li Junjie took the remaining two crossbows to the side of the tent, put them down, looked back, and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no!"
Fu Tianlai asked in surprise, "What is it?"
Li Junjie pointed to the edge of the cave entrance and said, "Grandpa, my cousin went down!"
Fu Tianlai was startled and rushed to the entrance of the water cave. Sure enough, Fu Ying was nowhere to be seen, and one of the diving tools by the entrance was also missing. Needless to say, Fu Ying had already gone into the water. He couldn't help but stomp his feet anxiously: "That girl, that girl... It's all my fault for spoiling her since she was little. She doesn't know the immensity of the world at all!"
Seeing that Fu Tianlai was very anxious, Li Junjie said, "Grandpa, don't worry, I'll go down and bring my cousin up right away."
Fu Tianlai reached out to stop him, saying, "Wait a minute, it's too dangerous here, I can't let you go down too!"
Li Junjie had no choice but to wait by the cave entrance. After four or five minutes, several bubbles suddenly appeared on the surface of the water. He quickly called out, "Grandpa, Grandpa, there's movement down there!"
Without him having to shout, Fu Tianlai and the black man were already standing guard with him at the cave entrance.
After a string of bubbles rose to the surface of the water, a streak of bright red color suddenly appeared on the surface.
Li Junjie exclaimed in shock, "This...this is blood! Quick...pull the rope!"
The black man was right next to the rope. When he heard Li Junjie shout, he reached out and grabbed the nylon rope and pulled it up with all his might. But he fell backward because of the force!
The rope was pulled out, but it broke after four or five meters. Only the section outside the hole was pulled out!